Meet Stef
Stefani is a Wealth Advisor based in the Santa Barbara, California office. She joined Mercer Advisors in 2013 and her experience in the financial services industry is all with Mercer Advisors. Stefani serves a diverse range of clients at various life stages, including young couples accumulating wealth, doctors approaching retirement, and widows planning their path forward after the loss of a lifelong partner. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®. She earned a B.A degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Stef’s specialties
At Mercer Advisors, all of our wealth advisors provide a highly personalized approach, backed by a team of specialists that ensure every part of your financial list is addressed. Additionally, Stef has focused experience in these areas:
- Planning for retirement, from high-earning years to long-term income strategies
- Financial strategy for clients who are divorced and divorcing, including asset division and long-term planning
- Life changes after the loss of a spouse, from estate transitions to long-term planning
- Guiding clients through living in retirement with steady income and smart planning
- For women breadwinners, financial strategies to support their families and long-term goals
Her working style
Stefani approaches every client relationship with thoughtfulness and care. Whether you’re building, preserving, or transitioning wealth, she will walk in partnership with you to achieve your goals.
Stef in real life
Favorite thing about where you live?
I grew up in Santa Barbara and have lived here my whole life (my husband too). Santa Barbara is where the ocean meets the mountains — and where my heart feels most at home. It’s truly a special community and I feel lucky to raise my kids here.
What keeps you busy outside of work?
Outside of work, my kids keep me joyfully busy — from tee-ball games to dance class and everything in between. It’s the kind of chaos I wouldn’t trade for anything, because watching them grow and being part of their world is the greatest adventure of all.
What’s one thing you are surprisingly good at?
I am surprisingly good in the kitchen — and I love trying new cuisines and being creative! Cooking lets me share joy one plate at a time, and nothing beats seeing people light up over a meal.
Stef’s snapshots
Meet Stef’s Teammates
Jade Lamas
Client Service Specialist
What Stef Says
Jade is an incredible asset to the team — always going the extra mile to support our clients with care, efficiency, and a personal touch.
Caitlin Smith
Sr. Client Service Specialist
What Stef Says
It’s rare to encounter someone who embodies both exceptional skill and genuine care in their work, but Caitlin is a shining example of just that. Clients frequently express their appreciation for Caitlin’s responsiveness, kindness, and help.
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AdvisorHub Advisors to Watch 2025: To be considered for the rankings, advisors complete an application and have at least $150m in AUM, seven years of experience, two years of good standing tenure at their current firm, and a clean regulatory record. The collective AdvisorHub rankings celebrate excellence in scale, growth, and professionalism—qualities that define our team.
Forbes Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Best-In-State 2025: The rankings, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria—mostly gained through telephone, virtual, and in-person due diligence interviews—and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of four years’ experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass the highest standards of best practices. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.
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